Settled under a canopy, Harris Taylor was relaxing at South Carlsbad State Beach with his family, happy to have a reserved spot in a campground where hopeful visitors can sometimes line up for hours just in case there's a no-show.

“It's our first time here, but it's not going to be the last — that's for sure,” said Taylor, a chef from Sacramento.

But when they do return, it will cost more — much more.

Superintendents of state parks in San Diego County yesterday unveiled a series of day-use and camping fee increases starting Monday, hoping to raise enough money to offset staggering budget deficits without scaring away droves of visitors.

Visitors such as Rick Rodriguez of Escondido, who was RV camping at Silver Strand State Beach with his wife and grandchildren.

“We used to come a lot, but this will be it,” Rodriguez said. “I can go to a beautiful, private campground with full hookups, electricity and water for less.”

The most coveted ocean-view camp spots with hookups will command as much as $26 extra, raising the nightly fee to $65 for some sites. In contrast, a standard tent-only spot a short walk from the bluff will be $35 — an increase of up to $15 nightly.

Campers heading east to the desert or mountains will face an increase, but not as steep. Spots will cost $10 more at Palomar Mountain and Cuyamaca Rancho, but just $5 or $6 extra at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

“We're trying not to price people out of their parks,” said Kathy Dice, acting superintendent of the state park district, which includes Anza-Borrego, Palomar and Rancho Cuyamaca.

But bargain hunters will be disappointed come winter. Cheaper off-season fees at coastal campgrounds will be discontinued to keep from imposing even higher charges for summer camping. Along the coast, the same prices will be in effect whether it's February or August.

“We have tried to focus the largest increase where we have the greatest demand,” said Clay Phillips, acting superintendent of the San Diego Coast District.

“The collateral effect of that is we are not increasing the standard sites as much. We're hoping to keep those relatively affordable for John Q. Public,” he said.

Day trippers will not be spared. Beach parking will go up to $10, a $2 increase. Day use at Anza-Borrego to enjoy the wildflowers or to stroll the Palm Canyon trail will run $10, a $4 increase.

As with most state services, parks face serious budget challenges. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed $14.2 million in spending and several other funding sources have been reduced.

Even with the extra fee revenue, officials warn that as many as 100 of the 279 state parks could close unless corporations and foundations step up. But shutting down parks would cost the state about $10 million in lost fees.

A final list will be determined by attendance, upkeep costs and revenue generated, officials said.

Dice said the goal is to implement strategies that can be reversed when the economy improves.

“We're hoping the changes we're making are not lasting,” she said. “It's emergency management crisis planning.”

Superintendents are pursuing more partnerships to stave off closures and additional fees, they said.

“Out here, no one has stepped forward,” Dice said. Said Phillips, “We're working on it, but it's premature to get into any details.”

At Silver Strand, Kelly Harris, a Chula Vista police officer, said the increase will not prevent him from returning, but he said it may stop other people.

“I feel bad for the families who come here that are on a budget,” said Harris of Santee. “Fifty to $100 a week is going to knock them out of the ballpark.”

Haenel and Birgit Wolfgang of Munich were surprised — not because fees are going up but because they remain a bargain.

“Two years ago, we were traveling in Italy and we paid much more,” said Birgit Wolfgang as they prepared for a three-day stay in an oceanfront space. “We paid $75 for the same kind of spot. This is cheap.”

At South Carlsbad, Wanda Griffin of Long Beach sat at a picnic table with her daughter, Coni Christensen, enjoying the shade under a canopy next to their RV while the children played on the beach.

Griffin said she's annoyed about the fee increase but it won't stop her from visiting the campground, a family tradition for 20 years.

“Some things are just a tradition,” she said. “What are you going to do?”